$20 for Nine People to America

Hong Kluver, also known as Lê Thị Hồng, vividly remembers the Tet Offensive of 1968 and the constant movement of her family due to the war. She left Vietnam in April 1975, just before the fall of Saigon, with her family, who had prepared all the necessary paperwork in advance. Her father took her family of nine on a flight out of Vietnam with just $20 in their pocket.

Her father worked for the American government in Vietnam, which exposed her to interactions with American soldiers from a young age. She discusses the challenges of adapting to life in the United States, particularly in western Oklahoma, where her family settled initially. Hong reflects on the difficulties her family faced, including financial struggles and the need for her parents to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. She migrated to California at one point and talks about the prejudice and discrimination faced by Vietnamese immigrants in California, including protests against their presence.

Throughout her story, she emphasizes the importance of family and community support in navigating life's challenges.